Christ
and Covetousness
04
October 2006
Pastor
Matt Black
Midweek
Service
Hebrews
13:5-6
Introduction: Open your Bible to Hebrews
13:5-6. The title of tonight’s message is “Christ and Covetousness”
Tonight we
come to a truth that will make you or break you as a Christian. If you
are a true Christian, you will embrace the truth we come to tonight, because
what we are talking about is the reality of the Gospel of Christ in your
life. Tonight we are talking about Covetousness. The bedrock
conviction of Christianity is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is
enough. His grace is sufficient to justify me and sanctify me, and
reality of whether we believe that or not is shown in our lives. If God
has provided for your justification and has promised to make you holy, then He
will provide for your every need. Look over at Hebrews 13:5-6.
Let’s read it: “Let your conversation be without
covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath
said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may
boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do
unto me.”
I.
The Christian’s Responsibility.
Here we see two commands (mandates): No coveting and be content!
A. No Covetousness.
Let your conversation be without covetousness; The apostle here says, that
our lives should be without this sin! What does it mean to covet?
1. What is coveting?
a. A Definition of
coveting. To covet is to want something that God has not provided for you, or
to go about getting something in some way other than through God. The
spiritually-mature Christian understands that "godliness with
contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6). If you want
to be truly rich—be happy with what you have.
b. The Dangers of
coveting. Psalm 10:3, “For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire,
and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.”
1) One who does not give according to
the measure of abundance to God is covetous. That is obvious. Even
the widow gave her mites. She gave more than the rich! Scripture
reveals many times that the rich have so much more, and give so much less than
the poor. Look at Mark 12:41-44, “And Jesus sat over against the
treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that
were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she
threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him
his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow
hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44
For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did
cast in all that she had, even all her living.”
2) The one who has to have the latest
fashions. It was Paul who said, “I have coveted no man's silver, or
gold, or apparel” (Acts 20:33).
c. The Deception of
coveting.
1 Thessalonians 2:5 speaks of a “cloke of covetousness”. Covetousness
is covered many times by a false stewardship.
The deception is this. I think I must have more if I
am to please God. And we call it stewardship! If I am poor, and I
have no stature in this world, can I be pleasing to God? Can I do all
that God wants me to do if I have nothing in this world?
Let me explain turn over to Luke 12:16, Jesus tells
the story of a rich man. He says, “The ground of a certain rich man
brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What
shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he
said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there
will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul,
Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink,
and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this
night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be,
which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for
himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Let’s imagine this rich man
were a part of our church. We would say of the rich man:
“This rich man practiced good
stewardship. His crop production increased significantly. He didn't let his gains
go to waste out in the open. He made sure to plan for the future. He took care
of himself and he took care of what he owned. The rich man was also a wise
man.”
No! This is
wrong! The rich man here practiced BAD stewardship. He was
covetous! He was a fool! Why?
1) He failed to acknowledge that God
had given him all that he had.
2) He did not use his gains for the
3) He kept God out of His plans for
the future.
4) In fact, he didn’t ask God for
anything, but gained it himself (or so he thought) so why should this man give
thanks?
The Lord earlier in verse
15 had given the timeless truth for all of us to heed. Look at Luke
12:15. Jesus said, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a
man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
Meaningful life isn't
materially-oriented in any way at all, because the life of a Christian is
spiritual and eternal. To make temporal things the measure of fulfillment,
security, contentment, peace, joy and life itself is to deny God. That is sin.
Because the sum and fullness of man is to fear God and keep His commandments.
Because God's Kingdom and righteousness come first. Thus, life is for God, not
for stuff.
The deceit of
covetousness
Somehow we must get beyond
the ungodly notion that God-pleasing stewardship amounts mostly (if not
totally) to thrifty investment and conscientious care of the wood, hay and
stubble we possess! Yes, God wants us to take care of what He has entrusted to
us. But God also intends to burn it all up someday! "Seeing then that
all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in
all holy conversation and godliness" (2 Peter 3:11)? Indeed!!
2. Why do we covet?
We covet because we are not content!! We think that
something might make us happier if we had it. This is false! In
fact, if you are not totally happy with what you have right now, then you
would not be happier if you had ten times what you have.
Where do happiness, security, and significance come
from? Do they come from money and things? No, contentment comes
from being content in God. So the first responsibility that the apostle
gives us is don’t covet, right? “Let your conversation be
without covetousness,” and then what does he say? He says, “and
be content with such things as ye have”.
B. Be Content.
“and be content with such things as ye
have” The only remedy for covetousness is contentment!
Spurgeon said this:
“man cannot wear more than one suit of clothes at a
time, after all; and let him do what he likes, he cannot eat seven dinners in a
day, and he cannot enjoy ten times more than anyone else.”
How can we be content?
1. Realize God owns
everything. Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the LORD‘S, and
the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
2. Realize you owe God
everything.
Paul asks the question in 1 Corinthians 4:7, “what
hast thou that thou didst not receive?”
· Give your substance. Proverbs 3:9 tells
us to: “Honour the Lord with thy substance”. Is there anything in
your life that you are not willing to use for the Gospel’s sake? The
command here is to use all you have for the Lord. Honor Him with
it. I believe that is what leads to contentment.
· Give your life. Romans 12:1, “Present
your body a living sacrifice…”
3. Realize the greatest riches
you can have is to be rightly related to Christ.
“and be content with such things as ye
have” The only remedy for covetousness is contentment! Be
content in Christ!
1 Timothy 6:6-11, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain
we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be
therewith content.” Godliness! Are you rightly related to
God? Why do you need more. He’ll give you food and clothing.
He’ll take care of your physical needs. David says in Psalm
37:25, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen
the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
Application: It’s not a better bank account, or a better job, or
better friends, or better food, or better anything you need! You need
Christ. Your life is not money and friends and possessions. If you
are a Christian “your life is hid in Christ with God” (Colossians
3:1-3). Luke warns us in Luke 12:15, Jesus said, “Take
heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the
abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
II.
The Christian’s Reliance.
The Gospel is not just a bunch of words, but it is knowing and being in union
with the presence of Christ, as our text says in Hebrews 13:5, “for he hath
said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
A. Christ’s presence is all you need.
Let’s be clear about something. The Gospel is not about spewing back a
bunch of facts to the preacher. It’s about the presence of Christ.
What does 2 Corinthians 5:17 say? “If any man [pray a prayer,
walk an aisle, quote the four spiritual laws, etc.] he is a new creature”?
No! It says, “If any man BE IN CHRIST he is a new creature”?
Paul said something similar to this in Philippians 1:27,
“Only let your conversation [LIFE]be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.”
Christ is your life if you are a Christian!
B. When you covet, you replace the
presence of Christ with a counterfeit!!
· Why do we lie? We covet something
other than Christ.
· Why do we steal? We covet
something other than Christ.
· Why do we lust? We covet something
other than Christ.
· Why do we hate? We covet something
other than Christ.
We covet because we are not content with Christ, and so we
go about trying to be content some other way. We deceive ourselves.
Covetousness is the mother of all sins and it is the enemy of the Gospel of
Christ!!! I’ll prove it to you.
Turn over to James 1:14-18, “But every man is
tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when
lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished,
bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the
Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be
a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
Every good gift comes from the Father! Don’t covet,
instead pray! James says “Of his own will begat he us with the word
of truth”. That’s the Gospel. If God gave you the gift of
begetting you into His family, then He will give you every good and perfect
gift. He will provide for you!
Turn over to Matthew 6. Christ says in Matthew
6:19, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay
up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where
your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” He goes on to say
in verse 24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the
one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and
despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Can I tell you something? You do not depend on your
job for your provision! You do not depend on the church or anyone
else! You depend on God as a Christian to provide for you. Put no
confidence in the arm of the flesh! Your arm may break. Do not
trust in man. Do not trust in your company!
Philippians 3:3, We are they who “worship God in the spirit, and
rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh”.
Don’t covet a better job. Don’t covet a better
house, or a better vehicle. Covet Christ!
C. Coveting is ultimately a denial
of the Lord!
Job said, in Job 31:24, “If I have made gold
my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my
confidence; 25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and
because mine hand had gotten much…” What does he say in verse 28, “This
also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I
should have denied the God that is above.”
Coveting
will lead you on a path that denies the Lord. How do you know if you are
in the trap? Let me begin by asking you a question. It is a very
simple question.
· Do you love money? That
really says it all. Now notice I did not ask if you have money or if you
don’t have it. I just asked if you love it. Do you love
money? I’m not asking you if you love paper with green and black markings
on it. Money is the power to provide for yourself. We know what
Paul said to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the
root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the
faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
· Look at that phrase, “pierced
themselves through with many sorrows”. How do you react when you
don’t get what you want? That will tell you whether you have a witness of
salvation in you! The only thing the Christian sorrows for (blessed are
the poor in spirit, blessed are they that mourn…) is for sin! But sorrow
for riches is not a fruit of the Spirit. Look at Galatians 5:22-24, “But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts.”
III.
The Christian’s Remedy.
What is the remedy for covetousness? What is the cure? Hebrews 13:6,
“that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear
what man shall do unto me.”
A. Remember God. Deuteronomy 8:18
says clearly who it is that gives us anything, “But thou shalt remember the
LORD thy God; for it is He who giveth thee power to get wealth…" Some
of the wealthiest men in the world were godly men, like Job and Abraham.
Are you rich? Heed what the Bible says, Psalm
62:10, “if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.” That's an
important key to contentment.
Don’t set your love on riches. Set your love on
God! Thomas Watson asked,
“Can it be imagined that God gave us intellectual and
immortal souls to covet earthly things only?”
B. Refuse to worry. Our text says how
we should respond in our text Hebrews 13:6, if we are trusting in Christ
we have something to say! “[W]e may boldly say, The Lord is my
helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” I will not
fear!! “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians
4:6). Refuse to worry!
Why should you worry? God has promised you food on
the table and clothes in your closet. Are you worried still? What
does Jesus say? Turn over to Matthew 6:25-33. Christ says, “Take
no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet
for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the
body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not,
neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth
them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought
can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for
raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not,
neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all
his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so
clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the
oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall
we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these
things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have
need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and
his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
C. Reject the world. A receiving of
the Gospel is to rejecting of this world. Christ tells us “If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). It is a loss of all things
for God’s sake. Whether you be rich or poor, you ought to use all you
have for Christ.
Solomon after having everything there was to have came to
one conclusion: Ecclesiastes 2:11, “Then I looked on all the works
that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and,
behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was
no profit under the sun.”
We covet that which will not satisfy us. Just as he says
again in Ecclesiastes 5:10, “He that loveth
silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with
increase: this is also vanity.”
Worldly things cannot remove trouble of mind. When King
Saul was disturbed in his conscience, his crown jewels could not comfort him (I
Samuel 28:15).
Illustration: When John D. Rockefeller was asked how much money he
wanted, he said a million dollars. After he had made a million, the same
man asked him that question again, and Rockefeller said he wanted another
million.
D. Rejoice in the Lord. Our text says
that we have the Lord. He will never leave us nor forsake us! We
should “boldly say, The Lord is my helper” (verse 6 of Hebrews
13). Psalm 42:5, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why
art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for
the help of his countenance.”
Conclusion: Are you coveting anything but Christ? What
is your desire? David says in Psalm 73: 25-26, “Whom have I in
heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I
desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is
the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” Is Jesus
Christ enough for you? Is He your portion forever? Is He your
portion now??
Hebrews
13:5-6.
Let’s read it: “Let your conversation be without
covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath
said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may
boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do
unto me.”
Closing Hymn: 333 Open Mine Eyes Lord